WOLLASTONITE

Wollastonite, a calcium metasilicate (CaSiO3), has a theoretical composition of 48.3 percent calcium oxide (CaO) and 51.7 percent silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica, but may contain trace to minor amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and (or) strontium. Economic resources of wollastonite typically form when silica-enriched limestone deposits are buried and altered due to moderate to high pressure at depth or chemical alteration of limestone by silica-enriched hydrothermal fluids along faults or contacts with magmatic intrusions. Deposits of wollastonite have been identified in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Utah; however, New York is the only state where long-term continuous mining has taken place. Production In 2022, two companies mined wollastonite in the United States. Imerys Wollastonite USA LLC operated a mine and processing plant near Willsboro in Essex County, NY. The deposit contains diopside and garnet, which are removed using high-intensity magnetic separators, and up to 60 percent wollastonite. Vanderbilt Minerals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of R.T. Vanderbilt Holding Co. Inc., operated a mine and processing plant near Balmat in Lewis County, NY. The Vanderbilt Minerals deposit is highly differentiated, with large regions of wollastonite separated from gangue zones, and consists primarily of wollastonite (up to 90 percent) with minor amounts of calcite, diopside and prehnite. Wollastonite production quantities for NYCO and Vanderbilt are withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. Consumption Domestic wollastonite use in the United States includes construction-related markets, such as adhesives, caulks, cement board, ceramic tile, paints, stucco and wallboard, as well as friction product, metallurgical, plastic and rubber and miscellaneous applications. The U.S. Geological Survey does not collect consumption statistics for wollastonite, but consumption was estimated to have increased slightly in 2022 from that in 2021. In 2022, trends in domestic manufacturing sectors that use wollastonite were mixed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. privately-owned housing starts decreased by 3 percent for all types of homes with single-family units decreasing by 11 percent, but multiunit starts of five or more increased by 15 percent. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, steel production was 6 percent lower in 2022 compared with that in 2021. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, domestic automobile production increased by 12 percent in 2022 from that in 2021. Ceramics (frits, sanitaryware and tile), friction products (primarily brake linings), metallurgical applications (flux and conditioner), paint (architectural and industrial paints), plastics and rubber markets (thermoplastic and thermoset resins and elastomer compounds) and miscellaneous uses (including adhesives, concrete, glass and sealants) accounted for wollastonite sales in the United States. The global sales for most wollastonite were ceramics, paint and polymers (such as plastics and rubber). Globally, ceramics were estimated to represent more than 30 percent of wollastonite consumption, followed by polymers (such as plastics and rubber) and paint. Lesser worldwide uses for wollastonite include miscellaneous construction products, friction materials, metallurgical applications, and paper. Prices At year-end 2022, prices for domestically produced wollastonite were estimated to be between $340/t and $370/t. Price data for wollastonite produced in other countries were unavailable. Foreign trade In 2022, wollastonite exports were estimated to be less than 10 kt, and imports were estimated to be about 1,000 t. Most of the trade was with Canada and Mexico by road or rail. Comprehensive trade data were not available for wollastonite because it is imported and exported under a generic U.S. Census Bureau Harmonized Tariff Schedule code that includes multiple mineral commodities. Outlook The wollastonite industry closely follows the overall trends in economic growth. As manufacturing sectors that consume wollastonite grow, sales of wollastonite are expected to increase as well. As the United States and the world continue to recover from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical actions, the performance of the wollastonite industry will be influenced.

WOLLASTONITE

Authored by:
Elizabeth Sangine

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To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

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